What a year, what a team: Celebrating the vital volunteers that bring others home
What a team. What a year. A year that has seen HM Coastguard celebrate two hundred years of saving lives at sea – and celebrating the vital volunteers that risk their lives to bring others home.
It is the
people that matter and always have, the staff working day in, day out but also those
that get called upon when needed – our volunteers are vital.
They drop what
they are doing to come and help anyone, night or day, that get into trouble at the
coast.
And they have
done for two hundred years.
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| Milford Haven MRCC celebrated 200 years with a parade through the town |
So 2022 has represented
a wonderful chance to say ‘thank you’ as a local and national community, as
well as a modern rescue service.
This has been
done through a series of events across the country, hosted by one of our 10
Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres strategically placed around the UK.
On
International Volunteer Day 2022, as we celebrate our 200th year, we
wanted to once more highlight how important our volunteers are – to both us and
to you.
And
to share details of how each area has marked our significant anniversary, in
their own unique way.
A year of events at the MRCCs
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| East Anglia's teams went on a special river-cruise to mark the unique landscape of the area they protect |
Falmouth
got local celebrations under way as they enjoyed eating scones the Cornish way,
followed by Belfast’s procession of staff and volunteers in a moment of
recognition for everyone involved in search and rescue in Northern Ireland.
Milford
Haven’s event temporarily took over the town with a rich programme of events –
and multiple banners covering almost every building – before Stornoway held
three events to ensure all communities in the Hebrides and Scottish west coast
could take part.
Shetland also arranged two events, in Orkney and Shetland, as coastguards took the opportunity to share stories, discuss the changing times and reflect on their time with the coastguard. Aberdeen’s event was held – appropriately – on a ferry berthed in port before senior staff were received by the Lord Provost in a civil service.
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| Shetland MRCC took the opportunity to award long-service awards to their team during the CG200 celebrations. Coastguard Chaplain Tom (right) was on hand to help. |
Holyhead held a
spectacular celebration in the town centre, with local dignitaries and senior
officers mingling with volunteers and control room staff.
Coastguard
Chaplain Tom Ebbens held a church service, before everyone wrapped up warm for
the arrival of a fish and chip van – to echo the seaside tradition. The
Chaplain has attended all the CG200 events, reading a poem or giving a sermon
as requested.
East Anglia,
meanwhile, took to the seas – or, rather, the Norfolk Broads – with a
three-hour river cruise. The Broads are a unique tidal environment watched over
by the Coastguard, who protect people in the more than 100 miles of navigable
waterways.
The afternoon
saw speeches, cakes shared and good company.
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| Aberdeen's CG200 cakes |
Finally, Dover
MRCC invited coastguards from the area to come together for a low-key affair in
November. Coastguards’ hard work and dedication was celebrated, as teams
enjoyed some food.
What a team.
